© Reuters
Head-to-head record
Previous meetings: 11
Barcelona wins: 7
Draws: 1
Shakhtar wins: 3
These two sides have been relatively familiar foes since the turn of the century, facing off 11 times overall and nine times in the space of 20 years.
Unsurprisingly, Barcelona edge the overall head-to-head record with seven wins to Shakhtar's three from those 11 previous meetings, but they did lose the most recent showdown in the 2023-24 Champions League group stage, when Danylo Sikan scored the only goal of the game.
Barca had won four in a row against Shakhtar prior to that, including the reverse fixture 2-1, when Ferran Torres and Fermin Lopez both assisted each other for goals.
Prior to 2023-24, the most recent meeting came in the 2010-11 Champions League quarter-finals, when unsurprisingly Lionel Messi had the decisive say with the only goal of the game in the return leg.
The tie had already been largely settled by that stage courtesy of Barca's 5-1 triumph in the first leg, courtesy of goals from Andres Iniesta, Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Seydou Keita and Xavi.
There has been silverware on the line in one previous meeting between the two teams, with Barcelona winning the 2009 UEFA Super Cup in Monaco, although they needed extra time before Pedro netted the only goal of the game.
That meeting came the season after they had met in the Champions League group stage, when Shakhtar picked up their only away triumph over Barcelona courtesy of goals from Oleksandr Gladkyy (2) and Fernandinho in a 3-2 win.
Shakhtar ultimately finished third in that group to drop into the UEFA Cup, which they duly won, while Barcelona went all the way in the Champions League, beating Manchester United in that season's final.
There was also one win apiece in the 2004-05 Champions League group stages, with Deco, Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o on the scoresheet in Barca's home win and a Julius Aghahowa brace handing Shakhtar their first-ever win over the La Liga side.
The first meetings between the two sides saw Barcelona run out 4-1 aggregate winners in the first round of the 1978-79 European Cup Winners' Cup, with Hans Krankl scoring in both games.
Previous meetings
Nov 7, 2023: Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 Barcelona (Champions League group stage)
Oct 25, 2023: Barcelona 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk (Champions League group stage)
Apr 12, 2011: Shakhtar Donetsk 0-1 Barcelona (Champions League quarter-final second leg)
Apr 6, 2011: Barcelona 5-1 Shakhtar Donetsk (Champions League quarter-final first leg)
Aug 28, 2009: Barcelona 1-0 Shakhtar Donetsk (UEFA Super Cup)
Dec 9, 2008: Barcelona 2-3 Shakhtar Donetsk (Champions League group stage)
Oct 1, 2008: Shakhtar Donetsk 1-2 Barcelona (Champions League group stage)
Dec 7, 2004: Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 Barcelona (Champions League group stage)
Sep 29, 2004: Barcelona 3-0 Shakhtar Donetsk (Champions League group stage)
Sep 26, 1978: Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1 Barcelona (European Cup Winners' Cup first round second leg)
Sep 12, 1978: Barcelona 3-0 Shakhtar Donetsk (European Winners' Cup first round first leg)
Barney Corkhill
